2 Part Dosing Amounts

[sidneyr]

The issue: low calcium and alk and how much to dose

My tank: RSM 500(120g). RS Coral Pro Salt. 4L water change every night. 7 months set up . SPS dominant. Stable calcium (450) and alk(7.5) for some time. Ive been dosing 60ml each of BRS Calcium chloride and soda ash. pH swings from 7.9 to 8.2. Coralline algae has really taken off over the past month at a rapid pace! However, now calcium and alk run at 380 and 6.5 respectively. just tested mag at 1450.

As far as I can tell the growth spurt of coralline has coincided with this issue. I am wondering if I should simply increase the amount of 2 part or try another strategy.

Thanks

 

[Potatohead]

Increase as necessary. Only other strategy would be adding kalkwasser dosing or dumping everything for a calcium reactor.

 

[sidneyr]

my thoughts as well. I was wondering how much other folks are dosing in similar circumstances. What would be considered too much?

 

[Potatohead]

Some guys dose like half litre a day, there's really no maximum but if you have a large tank you'll eventually reach a point where you're spending lots on dosing chemicals and it makes more financial sense to buy a reactor.

 

[Ron Reefman]

Some guys dose like half litre a day, there's really no maximum but if you have a large tank you'll eventually reach a point where you're spending lots on dosing chemicals and it makes more financial sense to buy a reactor.

Or dose less expensive chemicals.

For over 7 years now I've been using Dowflake for Ca, Mag Flake and Epsom salt for Mg and soda ash from a pool supply for alk. Dowflake & Mag Flake cost less than $0.50/pound, soda ash and Epsom salt less than $1.00/pound.

BTW, I do this in 4 different tanks and the main DT is mostly sps with some lps and zoas.